After Manendragarh’s sitting MLA Shyam Bihari Jaiswal was declared as candidate of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for the second time, the pressure of revolt had started building up in the party.
The rebels have started to register their reservations over the selection of candidates. Now, few of them are rallying upon the fact that they would prefer to go as independent candidates to contest polls. This would give a political twist to the Manendragarh seat, if the rebels make a dent in the existing seat of BJP from Surguja division as BJP has relied upon the sitting MLAs more.
As per party insiders, total seven candidates had placed claim on party ticket but sitting MLA Shyam Bihari Jaiswal had reportedly been given an upper hand. Last time also, BJP had to face revolt but finally it was pacified.
Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) District President Sanjay Singh is angry with the supporters of candidate Shyam Bihari Jaiswal.
He said that after official announcement of candidates and even after model code of conduct was in force, the supporters had gone for heavy bursting of crackers, sloganeering and other activities.
Singh said the party workers had been hurt by the incident.
BJYM District President from Koriya, Sanjay Singh said, “My supporters after announcement of official candidate, contacted me and suggested to fight the election as independent candidate. It is the reason of showing interest to fight election, in case supporters back me.”
State BJP Kisan Morcha Vice President Lakhan Lal Shrivastava said, “For last five years, I had worked hard with party workers to ensure that all the welfare schemes of state reached the right beneficiaries at the ground level by holding ‘Jan Samvad’ rally to meeting the supporters and party workers in whole of assembly constituency to hold discussion with them. “
BJP candidate Shyam Bihari Jaiswal said, “Party can given the ticket to only one person out of many in list. It is my right to claim party ticket. If Lakhan Lal Shrivastava and Sanjay Singh are speaking of contesting as independent candidate, then office bearers of party organisation would advise them. BJP is a disciplined party; there is no issue of rebellion.”